New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-01
THE DIAMOND RING.

actors and one OF the best men ever KNEW
Meanwhile the ring was passing from hand 10
hand, and the universal verdict was that none OF
US had ever seen a finer stone.
"Turenne was rather q wealthy man. said ono
of little circle, "but didn't think he could
have afforded or would have cared to spend so
much money on an ornament as thai r1IS muso
have cost"
"He wanted 10 for some special purpose which
hfteward fell through, rejoined Wyse Il know
all about it, for l bought 1t for him myself. had
quite little adventure on the OCCASION"
"TeIl the story, we cried.
"Wel' said Wyse, taking a publ at his cigar
and settling himself back In his chair lit is
good many years ago now / playing high
comedy characters at the old Princess, and as
had been working very hard set of for the south
of France as soon as the closed. 10
happened that Turenne who had proved himself
true friend to me- wanted a good diamond lor q
purpose needn't trouble you with and before
set out on my travels 1 told him that II / met
with particularly fine one at a moderate pr1ce
would buy it for him. and he, being too busy at
the time TO attend to the matter himself, gladly
consented. was staying at Nice, when there came
TO the hotel Of those tall. oquacious Americans
who are plentiful all over Europe. There
seemed to be nothing Objectionable about the man,
except that he was vulgar and eternally talking
about the United States.
"On the evening after his arrival few of us
happened to be sitting in the blliardroom, and by
some chance or other the conversation turned on
the subject of diamonds.
az don't know much about the business myself,
said tho American, but Pm told by good judges
that thars about as good stone as you'll see In
days round
$50 saying he drew ring from his finger and
handed 10 to me, who happened to sit next him.
1t was, indeed magnificent brilliant, set In
ring of peculiar pattern When the lamp was
removed it seemed to gather into itself the light
out Of the semi-darkness and glittered like bit
of broken glass in the sunshine What is 1t
worth !? asked ono Of the men present.
1" That I can hardly tell you,' answered the
American, 'seein' friend at Buenos sent it TO me
direct, and I had it cut myself But Pm tired
of 1t, and seldom wear it.
would you sell itP I inquired, out OF
curiosity.
D" 4 might answered the American, especially
as this European trip is cleaning me out raster
than expected and don't want to 90 home to
Vermont skinned neatly as a cod Yes, you
may have that diamond for eighty pounds of your
money. stranger, and dirt cheap at that, should
say
looked at it the more l liked it. Eighty pounds
was quite as much as my friend wished to pay
Tor stone, but what if 1 could get one for him
worth hundred for eighty pounds?
viii you trade p he asked.
4 am not O judge of diamonds myself said
j, returning the stone to its owner. Pm afraid
] couldn't buy without taking lapidarys opinion
as to its value
I" All right said the American carclessly, it
.
in the morning. And if no puts lower value
on the stone than did. you can hev it at the
price he names, If you like to buy. I can't say
fairer than that
"The offer did, indeed. seem a very fair one
and went to bed that night determined to secure
the jewel for my friend if the expert reported
favorably Of it.
"Next morning the American and strolled
down to the shop of the chief jeweller of the town
and when we entered the place 1 first of all paid
,axf hxy,, friA opl han
taking the ring from the hand of my new &C.
guaintance, placed it before the jeweller and
asked him to give me an opinion as to its value.
ga ver' fine stone, SIR said the Frenchman
Il congratulate you on the possession Of so fine
diamond
"' 1t is not mine it belongs to my friend here.
i"'Ah If that be the case then l congratulate
heem,' said the polite tradesman.
"'What do you suppose it is worth p asked.
i"'Oh, it is difficult to say said the French
man, Struggling his shoulders. Won gentleman
sinks price NOR for him, another sinks
80 Yes but what would you give if you were
IN biIv il? Would you give eighteen hundred
francs p
"Ihe jeweller did not reply for few seconds
He popped his microscope once more into his eye,
held the ring up to the light, examined the setting
and fell to making elaborate calculations with
pencil on q sheet of blotting- paper
49, do not often buy such large stones but
will give you two Thousand five hundred francs
"Ihe Yankee did not reply and the Frenchman
assuming that his offer was accepted, placed the
ring on little ledge behind him and opened his
desk for his check-book.
80 Not so FAST said Brother Jonathan: the
diamonds not for sale'
Two thousand six hundred francs, was the
Frenchmans reply.
1.-The American shook his head.
80 Seven hundred-eight hundredv
I"'NoP
rfuL-
Is my last offer. Pause, beg Of you, monsieur,
before you refuse it. 1t is a large sum-three
thousand francs and, as if he were convinced
that no one could refuse such price, he put the
stone more among his own treasures and
again turned round for his checkbook.
40 Thunder exclaimed the Yankee: what do
you take me for T? / tell you can't and won't
sell you the ring 1t was good as sold to this
British gentleman last night. and it isn't mine to
sell any more. Give me the ring.
$50 saying the American took the ring rather
Sharply from the jewellers hand and replaced it
on his finger. The Frenchman next made me an
offer for the trinlSet but as had not bought 1t
for myself, Of course could not sell it, and we
left the shop.
."My mind was clear now as TO the prudence OF
giving eighty pounds for the diamond. / had
heard the best jeweler in the town offer three
thousand francs, or o hundred and twenty pounds,
FOR it:
ably, said 10 the American when we reached the
street. After all. q bargain can't be all on one
side, and had never promised to buy the ring, sc
YOU had a perfect legal right to sell it to the
Erenchman!
90 You needn't say no more. stranger said the
Yankee, as il he were tired of the subject. You
can hev the stone now, If you choose at the price
we fixed on last night and he held the ring out
to me.
But had to get my letters Of credit cashed,
hnd agreed 10 meet the American in the billiard
room in an hours time and conclude the tran
saction
"No one was in the billiard.room when I entered
10 for it was still carly in the day except the
American, who was standing by the empty fire.
In fhat1n uo